Union Pacific Houston Cancer - Is Creosote Still Affecting Houstonians?
For decades, residents of Houston's Fifth Ward have argued the company hasn't done enough to remove creosote in the underground air at its rail yard that is contaminated. The latest tests have shown that contamination could still be affecting residents living nearby.
Researchers say it may be related to elevated cancer rates in the area. Two years after launching a state-wide health investigation Researchers found that there were higher than anticipated rates of childhood lymphoblastic and adult kidney and pelvis cancers in the region around the Union Pacific site.
Creosote
Creosote which is a common chemical that is used to treat wood is also a typical one. It can also cause cancer in those exposed to it.
It is a thick oily substance, from amber to black in color. It has a smoky scent and a bitter taste. It is a distillation of coal product that has been used for over 150 years to preserve wood.
In the United States, it is used to treat railroad ties and other types of wood including fence posts, utility poles and marine pilings. It can also be used for protecting log homes and other structures against rot and insect infestation.
According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Creosote is potentially dangerous chemical. A short-term exposure could cause skin and eye irritation and chemical burns stomach pain and burning of the throat or mouth and liver or kidney problems.
Long-term exposure may cause skin and scrotum cancer. Workers who come into direct contact with it during wood treatment or other manufacturing processes are at risk.
It is believed to be a human carcinogen, according to the EPA. It has been linked to a range of cancers of various types including esophageal and lung cancer.
Houston's Fifth Ward residents have been exposed for decades to creosote, due to a railroad yard right next to their homes. They claim that the chemical has caused soil and homes to be contaminated, and continues to spread underground.
Harris County and Houston have joined forces to fight Union Pacific in federal court. They are demanding that the company test for contamination on a regular basis and take preventative measures to stop it from spreading.
A group of Fifth Ward neighbors filed an action against Union Pacific in October of 2017. They claim that creosote from the former rail yard is contaminating the soil beneath their homes and causing serious health problems.
They are seeking damages from the railroad in order to cover the cost of cleanup as well as other related costs. They claim that they have been suffering from environmental racism and discrimination, as well as other forms of pollution that have impacted them and their families.
Dioxin
Dioxins are chemicals which aren't able to break down in the environment in a timely manner and can stay in the air, in the soil, or sediment for a lengthy period. They can be found in a variety places that include natural disasters, industrial accidents, cigarettes, and incineration or hazardous waste.
The health effects of dioxin are not clear at low levels, however there is evidence that suggests they may cause cancer as well as other serious illnesses. Patients who are exposed at higher levels of dioxin are found to have an increased risk of organ cancers, heart disease immune system problems, and endocrine disorders including hormonal imbalances. They can also cause reproductive problems, a depressed immune system, menstrual problems and diabetes as well as weight loss, hair growth and facial cysts called chloracne.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), the most frequent way that people are exposed to the toxins is through water and food. They aren't volatile and water-soluble, so they are easily to be absorbed by the body through the intake of meat, dairy products, fish, and other seafood.
It is nevertheless important to be aware that the amount of exposure that will have a harmful effect on your health is dependent on many factors, including the amount you eat or drink, the frequency you drink or eat and how often you breathe. It is also important to take into consideration your age, gender and diet, nutritional status and family traits and other factors in your health that could affect whether you are affected by dioxins or not.
Additionally, the type of contaminant is another important factor. According to the EPA certain toxins are more harmful than others to human health. Polychlorinated biphenyls or PCBs, are more likely than creosote affect your health.
PCBs can cause damage to eyes, liver, kidneys, and kidneys. They can also damage the immune system of a person, and interfere with the growth of healthy teeth and bones.
For Railroad Cancer Lawyer , residents of Houston's Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens have been complaining about a rash of cancer-related deaths which has been linked to the Union Pacific rail yard, which is next to their neighborhoods. Friday's announcement by the city's health department revealed that they had found cancer-causing chemicals in surface samples near the rail yard. The release noted that the results were not a good sign. FOX 26's Mayor Sylvester Turner stated that he intends to sue Union Pacific over the matter and that a plan submitted by Texas environmental regulators won't suffice.
Polychlorinated Biphenyls
PCBs, also referred to as polychlorinated Biphenyls, are noxious chemicals that have been used for over 60 years in industrial and consumer products. They were banned in 1979 after being found to cause cancer, weaken the immune system, and interfere with learning.
PCBs can be harmful to soil or water as well as air in many parts of the globe once they are released into the environment. They are strong binders of organic matter, and are easily transported and accumulated in the environment.
PCBs are a significant concern for the protection of the environment and public health. The EPA considers them to be a possible human carcinogen and has shown that they can cause cancer in laboratory animals.
Some studies also show a link between PCBs to birth defects in children. This is particularly relevant for children who are exposed to these chemicals while pregnant.
The primary route for exposure to PCBs is through food items. Because they are the highest in PCBs Fish is the primary source of exposure. However, PCBs can also be found in dairy and beef and other agricultural products.
Another method of being exposed to PCBs is by drinking or showering with water that has been polluted with PCBs. This can be caused by leaks or spills that occur in electrical equipment and other.
People may also be exposed to PCBs by breathing in the air or coming into contact with skin. These chemicals can cause an illness known as chloracne which is a mild, small yellow skin lesions that can last from a few weeks to a few years.
The effects of PCBs upon the health of humans aren't completely understood. Researchers have suggested that they could cause biliary and liver cancers in humans. However further research is required to determine how this affects us.
EPA is also investigating whether these chemicals could cause birth defects for newborns, including lower birth weight. Low birth weight is associated with insulin resistance, or Type II diabetes, high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease later in the course of. In two studies, children born with higher levels of PCBs in their cord blood had lower body weight at birth, and/or later in childhood.
Lead
Lead is a highly toxic metal that is found in many items like paints, pipes and food cans. It is absorbed into the body via two main pathways: oral and respiratory.
It is a potent antioxidant and is prone to react with other chemicals found in the environment. This can lead to its accumulation in the body , and could lead to serious health problems like cancer and other illnesses.
In Houston residents living near a creosote treatment plant owned by Union Pacific Railroad have a high rate of cancer. The city has asked for the federal government's help in the cleanup of the railroad's contamination site.
Union Pacific Railroad has a past history of contaminated its Fifth Ward rail yard and Kashmere Garden neighborhood with chemicals that could cause cancer. Residents claim that the company has been working to remove the contamination but the plan presented to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality was not sufficient.
The plume of groundwater below homes in the affected area is one of the most grave effects of the contamination. A recent study conducted by health officials has shown that soil samples from the rail yard contain an increased amount of creosote than is recommended for drinking water.
Another issue is that the creosote is slowly escaping into the air. It is causing residents to breathe in dangerous levels of vapors which are harmful to children as well as adults.
It is also possible that vapors are causing cancers in the residents who are breathing them in. A door-to-door health survey is being carried out in the neighborhood to find out more about the effects of the vapors on the residents' lives.
This is a major problem for the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Garden communities. This is a terribly sad situation that must be addressed immediately.
A Department of State Health Services study found that leukemia incidences were five times higher for children who lived in the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens neighborhoods than was expected. The study also revealed that adult cancers were more common in the neighborhoods than they were elsewhere in Texas.